Jennifer Lopez Faces Possible Hotel Suit

A new luxury hotel is threatening to sue Jennifer Lopez for $40 million, saying she reneged on an agreement to perform a concert for "political" reasons.

The Cratos Premium hotel and casino in northern Cyprus says the pop star can avoid the suit, however, by making good on her deal to perform the concert at the property, according to Sky News.

The performance was scheduled for July 24, Lopez's 41st birthday, but J.Lo canceled last week after she was deluged with thousands of letters of protest from Greek Cypriots in the south of the divided island, who said Lopez was making a political statement by performing in the north.

Some 20,000 people also signed up for a Facebook page protesting the concert, and Greek-American groups including the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association urged Lopez to cancel too, according to news reports.

A spokesperson for J.Lo told celebrity gossip website TMZ, "Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse.

"After a full review of the relevant circumstances in Cyprus, it was the decision of management to withdraw from the appearance. This was a team decision that reflects our sensitivity to the political realities of the region."

The Istanbul-based hotel owners told Sky the singer was "led to believe there was a war going on," which is not the case. They also said Lopez had already been paid for the gig.

Spokesman Murat Bozoglu, speaking from the company's headquarters in Istanbul, told AFP the cancellation "is not covered by any clause in the contract she signed with us."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey occupied the north in response to an attempt to unite the Mediterranean island with Greece.